River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-01-13
Rail Road Rates.

Extracts from X. r. Commissioner Haugen's
Reportl
While Wisconsin may in sense he
said to be fortunately located, enjoy
ing an extensive water front which is
generally supposed to insure fair rates,
the very fact that water cOmmunica-
tiOn exists at her borders tends To
drive Industries away from the inter-
iOr, to places more faVOrably located
as TO shipping facilities. The present
rates TO local points in central or west
ern Wisconsin, are as high as, or in
excess of the through rates from Chica-
go to st. Paul. A large tract of coun-
try lying between these commercial
centers, aud which might be supposed
to have the advantage of shorter dis.
lance TO eastern markets, is by the
present artificial rate system placed on
no better footing than territory lying
west of st. Paul. That the lower rate
TO the longer distance is injurious To
the healthful and even development
of the country at large, seems plain.
1t necessarily tends todrive industries
of smaller interior towns into few
commercial and manufacturing cen
tiers, and aecelerates that concentra-
tiOn of population and capital which
breeds dissatisfaction and eliminates
in strikes and riots. 1t would seem to
be practical economy that freight
coming from the east destined to points
within this state, should be stopped at
such points and not be carried past its
final destination to points in Minneso-
Ia and Iowa to be again returned over
. L.. ha .af 4 A. f1r
essary haul must in the end be paid
by the shipper. Rates from Chicago
to local points west of Eau Claire are
as high, and in some instances higher,
than the through rate To ST. Paul and
the rate from ST. Paul back to the To-
cal station. In this manner the local
dealer, no matter whether he makes
his purchase in the east or in the west,
is still made TO pay the st. Paul rate
for his shipment with the local rate
added.
The present system has undoubtedly
grown up in spite of railroad men, and
contrary to their wishes. Their Lest
efforts have been eXerted to prevent
unjust cutting of rates at large termi-
nal points, but the ruinOus rate wars
occur with more alarming frequency
than ever. interfering with business,
and making all enterprise dependent
on transportation mere game OF
chance. st. Paul is such an important
factor in the development of our state,
that again wish to use 1t IN illuStrat-
ing my point. Economy would dictate
that the shortest line, the line which
can do the business the cheapest, should
have it. Such would be the rule III
any other business.
A station geographically in Wiscon'
sin, is, by railway manipulation, as
far as freight rates are concerned,
transferred into Western Minnesota
or Iowa. 1t is difficult to see why
business interests shall not have the
full benefit of the greatest economy
in transportation as IN other branches
of industry. Ii grain can be shipped
from st. Paul or Minneapolis east
cheaper by Lake Superior than through
Chicago, it is difficult to see what
right Chicago lines have to any share
OF it. It's certainly natural that freight
should seek its destination by the
cheapest channel, and any interference
is a violation of natural laws. These
views are not based upon complaints
lodged in this Office, but come from a
careful study of the subject during
the last five years.